Why CE Approved Gear Is A Must For Every Rider?

A lot of us have experienced this scenario when you step into a motorcycle clothing shop looking for a perfect outfit that would make you look even cooler than you already do, and should be comfortable when you are riding your bike, as well to be sure that your outfit should also protect your body. But you get confused with labels, CE markings, standards and information about impact protection, double-stitched seams, and abrasion testing. A little dazed and confused you finally leave the store with a brand new outfit. Maybe it is not a stylish look you were going for at the beginning, but at least you chose to be protected if you ever fall off your bike. You have experienced that, didn’t you?

Motorcycling Gear CE Markings & Regulations

When purchasing protective motorcycle clothing, it is important to know whether the garments you are considering are produced to at least a minimum CE standard.

A label should have CE marking like in the following illustration. The marking shall be permanently attached to the garment.

Any CE-approved product must come with a certificate of conformity.

What does Motorcycle “CE Standards” Mean?

CE is the abbreviation of the French phrase “Conformité Européene” which translates to “European Conformity”.

If a product bears any type of CE marking, this means its manufacturer has constructed this garment to an applicable standard of safety and protection legislation.

This means the product is made to at leasta particular level of quality for the consumer’s reassurance.

In 1995, Cambridge University played a gigantic part in the development of CE marking, which aided an increase of knowledge for anticipated CE personal protective clothing regulations.

CE Tested, CE Certified Or CE Approved?

It is crucial to stress that there is a huge difference between the terms “CE Tested”, “CE Certified”, and “CE Approved”:

CE Tested:

The term normally implies that the manufacturer tested whole or just a piece of a garment within their own facility that might meet certain standards. However, the garment is not necessarily tested in a certified testing facility to meet officially accredited standards.

CE Certified:

This term is more secure, as it states that the garment samples were tested in certified testing facilities. In this case, you need to find out which part of a garment was tested.

CE Approved:

Such term means that several parts of a garment were tested in certified facilities and are accredited to meet or surpass the required standards in all zones.

New And Old Motorcycle CE Garment Testing Zones, Standards, And Classifications

The certification test EN13595 uses two test levels, with the body divided into four zones (see illustration with zones below):

Zone 1:

must-have impact protectors and needs to last 4 seconds on the Cambridge Abrasion Machine to meet Level 1 protection, and 7 seconds to meet Level 2.

Zone 2:

must-have impact protectors and needs to last 4 seconds on the Cambridge Abrasion Machine to meet Level 1 protection, and 7 seconds to meet Level 2.

Zone 3:

requires 1.8seconds for Level 1 and 2.5 for level 2.

Zone 4:

can be used for ventilation and stretch panels, but must still last 1 second on the abrasion rig for Level 1, and 1.5 seconds for Level 2.

Cambridge Abrasion Machine

EN17092 has five test levels, covering three key zones of the garment – Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3, with samples tested on a Darmstadt machine that spins them at a set speed until they’re dropped onto a slab of control concrete where they slow to a stop.

Darmstadt machine

Usually, you will see A, B or C letters on a label that indicates garments classification.

Classification AAA:

The highest level, demanding four seconds of abrasion resistance with the machine spinning at 707.4rpm (the equivalent of 120km/h) in Zone 1, two seconds at 442.1rpm (about 75km/h) in Zone 2 and one second at 265rpm (around 45km/h) in Zone 3.

Classification AA:

More suited to touring gear, this specifies two seconds in Zone 1 at 412.6rpm (about 70km/h), one second at 265.3rpm in Zone 2 and 0.5 seconds at 147.4rpm (the equivalent of around 25kmh) in Zone 3.

Classification A:

Deemed suitable for urban riding, with Zone 1 requiring one second of abrasion resistance at 265.3rpm and half a second at 147.4rpm in Zone 2.

Classification B:

same as A, but impact protectors are not required.

Classification C:

covers garments such as the mesh under-suits that have impact protection for off-road riding.

Samples are taken from each zone to be tested for seam strength and abrasion resistance, for instance. A company using the same materials and construction methods in two or more jackets, for example, could meet approval with one test, as long as the tested parts are put together in a tested way within the tested zones, and subsequent garments are added to the certificate. Once these materials and construction methods are approved, they cannot be changed, and that includes the specific supplier of the material.

Here, at PANDO MOTO, we always strive to go one step further. As pioneers of breakthrough performance, we have developed the strongest and lightest options for CE rated jeans in accordance with EN17092.

No Protective Garments Can Offer You A Complete Protection Against Injures!

Always use your motorcycling garments in combination with other forms of PPE including helmets, boots, gloves, and other corresponding or complementary PPE garments such as jackets/trousers.

Motorcycling is an INHERENTLY DANGEROUS ACTIVITY: wearing protective equipment should not be an excuse for increasing readiness to take risks. Do not use the protective garment for other purposes since improper handling may seriously reduce the protection provided.